Magnetic fishing tool



`an. 3Q, 1951 J. H. KLRBY, n

MAGNETC FISHING TOOL Filed may 7, 194e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Fig 1 Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MAGNETIC FISHING TOOL John H. Kirby, II, Houston, Tex.

Application May 7, 1946, Serial No. 867,796

l The invention relates to a magnetic fishing tool for wells thereby a piece of junk or fish in a well may be attracted, drawn into an enclosing skirt and caught so that it may be retrieved from the well.

It is one of the objects f the invention to provide a fishing tool where a magnet thereon is exposed to attract the iish and then enclosed to catch the fish.

Another object is to provide a magnet iishing toolfor wells with a slidable skirt to catch the fish.

Another object is to provide a magnetic fishing tool for wells with a slidable skirt which is normally retained in retracted position to be released automatically upon the energizing of the magnet.

Still another object is to provide a magnetic fishing tool which may be iilled with a suitable liquid to prevent the entrance of foreign matter until the tool is operated.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent with the following description considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the fishing tool as it is being operated to catch the fish;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view which is a continuation of the tool of Fig. 1 and showing the lower portion of the tool as having caught fish;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tool showing the parts in position as the fish is being attracted and with the skirt ready for release;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

6 Claims. (Cl. Q -86) In Fig. 1 the cable 2 is a combination cable 1 having an electric conductor therein and being capable of sustaining the weight of the fishing tool 2 and any fish which may be attracted or caught thereby.

A cap 4 fits closely about the cable 2 and a sealing plate 'therein serves to prevent the entrance of foreign matter. This capmay be removably attached to the body 1 of the tool by the screws 8. A conduit 9 extends from the cable 2 down through the cap 4, through the head I0 of the tool and into the body 3 thereof so as to protect the electric wires I2. These wires are connected to the magnet I3 so as to thus ener- ,l gize the magnet. The packing gland II seals the conduit in position.

The head I is threaded at I5 into the body 3 to seal the top of the body. This head is of reduced size so that it may be engaged by a suitable overshot or grapple to retrieve the tool in event the cable should break or the tool should become lodged in the well bore.

The body 3 is hollow to provide the chamber I1 in which the magnet Il is positioned. The lower end of the magnet carries a contact plate I8 which is of a size to fit across the open end III of the body and provide a surface against which the fish 20 may engage as best seen in Fig. 3. The opening I6 closed by a plug may be used to till the tool with oil or suitable liquid to prevent the entrance of foreign matter.

A skirt or retainer member 22 is slidably arranged around the lower portion of the body 3 and as the tool is lowered into the well bore will be in the position seen in Fig. 3. This skirt has an inwardly turned flange 23 thereon which deiines an opening 24 so as to expose the contact plate I8 as seen in liig. 3.

In order to retain the skirt in retracted position to expose the plate I8, a latch 25 is carried by the body in the form of a locking pin 2l slidable in the packing 21 and pivoted to an arm 28. 'I'his arm projects over the top of the magnet I3 in such a manner that it will be drawn down when the magnet is energized. This movement retracts the pin 26 from the recess 29 in the skirt 22 so as to thus release the skirt.

The sh catchers or tongues 30 pivoted at 3| in the skirt 22 and urged downwardly to the position of Fig. 4 by the springs 32 are retained in retracted position by the periphery of the body 3 as seen in Fig. 3. The recesses 34 in the interior of the skirt may be provided to receive the tongues.

Fig. 3 shows the bottom end of the tool with the parts in position as they are arranged when the tool is lowered into a well bore 40 where a fish 20 reposes on the bottom 4I thereof.

The fish 20 may be any piece of equipment or material which has fallen into the Well bore, broken from a tool or in any other manner become loosened and remains in the well bore. Loose pieces of junk of this sort are usually metallic and can be attracted by a magnet.

skirt22causesittoremainonorclosetotbe bottom. 'I'he skirt in thus dropping down or remaining stationary while the magnet moves up encloses the contact plate I8 and the iish 20 sc that the parts assume the position of Figs. 1 and 2. As the tongues 30 are released they will snap down to the position of Fig. 2 to close the bottom of the skirt. The current on the magnet may now be cut oil so that the magnet is deenergized. The fish 20 will now drop down onto the tongues or catchers 30 to be retained inside the skirt. The entire tool is now raised to the surface.

Broadly the invention contemplates a magnetic nshing tool which will attract, enclose and then catch the iish.

What is claimed is:

1. A shing tool for wells comprising a hollow body, a combination support and electric cable connected to said body to raise and lower the body in the well bore, a magnet in said body connected to said cable, a ilsh retainer skirt slidably supported on said body so that when said magnet is energized and the body lifted the sh will be raised into said skirt.

2. A iishing tool for wells comprising a, hollow 3. A iishlng tool for wells comprising a hollow body, a combination support and electric cable connected to said body to raise and lower the body in the well bore, a magnet in said body connected to said cable, a iish retainer skirt slidably supported on said body so that when said magnet is energized and the body lifted the sh will be raised into said skirt, and means operable upon the energizing of said magnet to release said skirt.

4. A magnetic ilshlng tool including a magnet to attract the sh, a, skirt slidable relative to the magnet. means energizing and means to lift said magnet so that said skirt encloses the ilsh, and additional means in the skirt to catch the ilsh when the magnet is deenergized.

5. A magnetic fishing tool including a body, a magnet therein, means including a cable to energize said magnet and manipulate said body, a skirt about said body which is slidable to enclose the lower end of said magnet, and means in the skirt to catch the ilsh.

6. A magnetic shing tool including a body, a magnet therein, means including a cable to energize said magnet and manipulate the body, a skirt about said body which is slidable to enclose the lower end of said magnet, and means to latch said skirt in raised position to expose the lower end of said magnet to attract the iish.

JOHN H. KIRBY, II.

No references cited. 

